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Michael Burnett, Jeff Floyd's Bass Player Dies at age 50 PDF Print E-mail
Michael Burnett the Bass player for Jeff Floyd passed away January 4, 2007 after suffering a massive heart attack.

Michael was born in Macon, Georgia March 19, 1956 Lead Guitar for the band (Powerhouse) William Reeves, tells the Chittlin Circuit that he and Michael were best friends for many years.

His music career began by playing the drums at the age of nine. He later found out that the drums was not challenging enough so when he enter the 5th grade he started playing the trombone and by the 6th grade he was playing trumpet. During the 8th grade while still playing trumpet, he became interested with the bass guitar. His desire to play the bass grew stronger as he listened to Verdine White of Earth, Wind, and Fire and Larry Graham of Graham Central Station. He picked up the bass guitar and he knew that he had found his niche. He would sneak down to the VFW and watch local musician Walter Jackson play the bass guitar. Walter showed him how to play the bass and sing at the same time. This was the challenge that he had been craving. Mike alone with seven other guys formed a band and started playing in school's talent shows. By the 10th grade, his last three periods was spent in the school's band room. Realizing Mike's talent, Band Director Samuel Stokes asked him to perform a few half time shows with the Southwest High School Marching Band.
** Update **



Funeral service is Friday Jan 12,2007 @ 1:00pm
Beulahland Bible Church
1010 Newberg Ave.
Macon, Georgia 31206
The family asked that Friends send cards to:
Micheal Burnett
804 Grayson Ave
Macon, Georgia 31204

In 1971 he formed the group “The Black Exotics”, which the group later change their name to “The Exotics”, and began performing in local night clubs around Macon (The Red Rooster, High Hat, Adams Lounge and JD’s Touch of Class). After years of playing the group finally got a break when they landed a gig with Stax Records as the band for recording artists Sam & Dave. From there the list began to grow, William Bell, Clarence Carter, Denise LaSalle and Bill Coday.

One night while performing in Louisianan, Mike was approach by Atlanta Artist, Inc. recording artist Larry Blackmon of Cameo. He told Mike that he was looking for a bass player and wanted him to come to Atlanta, Ga. to audition for the part. Larry said that he liked his style and felt that it would be perfect for the group. About six months later he arrived at the audition alone with about forty other bass players and was so impressive that they hire him on the spot. He recorded his 1st album with Cameo title “Alligator Woman”. With his funky bass pattern on the title cut "Alligator Woman" and "Be Yourself", the album went gold and the tour dates came rolling in. When Cameo started rehearing for the tour Mike was still obligated to perform with his group "The Exotics" for two more weeks at spring break in Panama Beach, Fla. So for the remaining of his contract he would fly to Atlanta, Ga. in the morning to rehearsal with Cameo for the tour and fly back to Florida at night to perform with The Exotics. In one day, Michael got married, performed his 1st major concert, kissed his new bride and hit the road for a 6 months tour.

After the tour, he spent a couple of days relaxing with his family when the call came to do a follow-up album. He left for New York to start recording the next album title “She's Strange”. On this project he was given a lot of freedom with his bass pattern as evident on the title cut “She's Strange” and more background vocal. This album also became a success so it was back on the road.

With contract problems Mike didn’t participate on Cameo’s next album “Style”, and the album didn’t do as well. Realizing that you shouldn’t mess with perfection, Mike was called back and out of the studio came “Single Life”. The album was an instance success.

One night he stopped in a local night club in Atlanta and on stage performing was one of his friends from Macon, Kary Hubbert. The next day Mike told Larry Blackmon what he had seen and asked that if Larry did anything with the group to let him be a part of it. Larry did by giving Mike a chance to produce his first major act, Cashflow. After that project Cameo started on what was to be Mike’s last album with the group “Word Up”. Mike bought in a long time friend and a form member of the Exotics, Willie Morris to do some background vocals. The album, Cameo biggest seller to date, reached platinum and Mike left the group.

After a lengthy absent Mike was asked by Larry to perform once more with Cameo on the Island of Bermuda for their yearly festival which he did and received rave review for his performance. After seeing his performance, the other artist and musician that were performing on the tour couldn’t believe that he had not been on stage for over 10 years.

As a producer, bass guitarist, and vocalist, he has preformed in:
a. videos; Atlanta Artist Inc., Cameo: Alligator Woman, Flirt, She’s Strange, Be Yourself, Single Life, and Attack Me With Your Love
b. live television shows; "Soul Train", Don Cornelius Inc., Hollywood, Ca., "The Lou Rawls Television Special", Hollywood, Ca,; "Solid Gold", Los Angels, Ca. and London's number 1 musical show, "Top of the Pop", London, England
c. television commercial; Mellow Yellow, Coke Cola Bottle Company, Los Angels, Ca.
d. major concerts halls, theaters and coliseum throughout the USA and abroad.

Mike has been employed by:
a. Atlanta Artists Inc. "Cameo", arranger, bass guitar player and vocalist
b. Atlanta Artists Inc. "Cashflow", producer, songwriter, arranger, bass guitarist and
vocalist
c. Stax Records "Sam & Dave", bass guitarist and vocalist
d. Stax Records "William Bell", bass guitarist and vocalist
e. Capricorn Studio Inc. "The Reddings", songwriter
f. PolyGram Records "Syreeta Wright" (former wife of Stevie Wonder), bass
guitarist and vocalist.

During his illustrious music career, Michael honors and awards are:
a. Platinum Album for Word Up
b. Gold Albums and Tapes for Alligator Woman, She’s Strange, Single Life and
Word Up
c. Gold Reel, Cheshire Sound Studio, Atlanta, Ga..

His professional affiliations are: ASCAP, BMI, Chocolate City and PolyGram Records Company. He preformed on a Musical score, “Big Money” for the hit movie “Disorderly” starring the Fat Boys for PolyGram Records Company.

Mike continues to assist new artist in the entertainment business such as Douglas Frazier choreographer, singer Willie Morris and saxophone player Melvin Wells. He completed a 10 weeks course at Fame Institute of Music, Fort Lauderdale, Florida for Audio Recording Engineering.

Michael Burnett still resides in Macon, Georgia where he still works with different artist William Bell and Jeff Floyd.
 
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